EURIPIDES
so long as Cyclops died a wretched death!
We'll smoke out his eye like a hornets' nest.	475
Odysseus
Be quiet now. You know my stratagem.
When I give the word, obey your leaders.
I refuse to save myself and leave my men
trapped inside. I could, of course, escape:
here I am, outside. But I have no right	480
to abandon my crew and save myself alone.
(He enters the cave.)
Chorus
Who'll be first along the brand? Who next?
We'll shove it square in the Cyclops' eye!
We'll rip away his sight.	485
Quiet.
Shhhh.
(Polyphemus appears from the cave flanked by
Odysseus and Silenus. Odysseus carries
the flask and cap, w/n'Ze Silenus holds
a pitcher and a mixing-bowl.)
Here he comes, flat, off-key drunkard,
reeling out of his home in the rock,	490
braying some wretched tune. Ha!
We'll give him lessons in carousing!
(Polyphemus stumbles blindly about.)
A little while: then, perfect blindness!
First semichorus
Happy the man who cries Evohe!	495
stretched out full length and making merry,
for whom the wine keeps flowing,
whose arms are open to his friend!
Lucky man, upon whose bed there blows
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